Mar 05, 2017 9:23 PM
Replying to Eric Simms
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The only way to get out of a firefighting situation is to identify, then neutralize, the source of the blaze. Most of the fires I’ve battled have been set by executives, who often fail to consult Project Managers before making strategic goals. This forces Project Managers to scramble frantically to fulfill the executives’ visions with too little time and too few resources – problems that could have been easily avoided if the executives had deigned to include us in their planning.
When I realized the source of fires I explained the situation to my supervisor, who agreed and took steps to make sure Project Managers are consulted at an earlier stage in the planning process. Not all the executives do this, but those who do notice they experience fewer problems during their projects. As executives see the benefits of including Project Managers as vital components to successful strategic planning, we are being included earlier and earlier in the process.
Extinguishing a fie usually eliminates problems for numerous people throughout an organization. This can quickly bring a Project Manager to the attention of many prominent people throughout an organization, and be a big career boost.
